- Most people are familiar with the drum sander because it does most of the sanding work. It's extremely heavy and requires at least two people to lift and move. This hardwood floor sanding tool looks like a bit like a big vacuum, with a dust bag and a drum on the bottom where you attach the sandpaper.
- After you sand out all the imperfections with the drum sander, the next hardwood floor sanding tool you'll use is the vibrating sander. It smooths out the floors. It looks similar to the drum sander, but it's smaller and lighter. The alternative is an orbital sander, which serves the same function of smoothing out the floors.
- You may have guessed that the edge sander is for the edges and spots where you can't reach with the drum sander. This hardwood floor sanding tool is hand-held, but don't confuse it with the sander you have in your workshop. The edge sander is heavy, expensive and has the power needed to sand imperfections out of a hardwood floor.
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You'll need more than just sanders to complete the sanding portion of your floor refinishing job. You'll also need:
- Sheets or plastic to cover your ceiling fan and/or any built-ins.
- Replacement sandpaper sheets. These will be sold wherever you rent (or buy) your equipment.
- Ear plugs and dust masks for safety. -
Don't attempt to sand an entire hardwood floor with a regular sander. It's back-breaking work to use a handheld sander on a floor.
You can easily rent all the hardwood floor sanding tools you need. Google "tool rental" and the name of your town to find a local place to rent.
Sanding your hardwood floor can take hours, so partner up with someone and take turns doing the drum sanding.
